Judge stays recognition of most Ohio out-of-state gay nuptials
COLUMBUS, Ohio (Reuters) – Ohio will not be required to recognize the legal marriage of gay couples statewide, pending appeal of a ruling that struck down a state ban, but it must recognize the unions of the couples who challenged the law, a federal ju…
Nebraska man could face execution after conviction in 4 killings
OMAHA, Nebraska (Reuters) – A Nebraska man was convicted on Wednesday of killing four people during a 10-day murder spree last summer within days of his release from prison and could face the death penalty in a state that has not carried out an executi…
Detroit pension deal approved by one retirement system
(Reuters) – The board of Detroit’s General Retirement System on Wednesday approved economic terms of a settlement with the city that include cuts to pension benefits, putting in place another key component of Detroit’s effort to exit bankruptcy by Octo…
Philadelphia using ‘robo-calls’ as weapon in war on illegal signs
PHILADELPHIA (Reuters) – Philadelphia is taking on businesses that blanket its neighborhoods with illegal paper and plastic signs by using automated phone calls to disrupt the operations of people who post them along with contact numbers.
Wisconsin passes law to curb private custody transfers of children
NEW YORK (Reuters) – Wisconsin has adopted a law to limit private custody transfers of children, the first law of its kind in the United States, responding to a Reuters investigation that exposed the dangers of the unregulated practice.
Jury begins deliberating in murder trial of Iraqi-American man
SAN DIEGO (Reuters) – Jurors began deliberating on Wednesday in the trial of an Iraqi-American man charged with murdering his wife in a case first investigated as a hate crime, following closing arguments in which prosecutors urged the panel to find hi…
California city ex-manager gets 12 years in prison for corruption
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – The former city administrator of Bell, California, who became a symbol of local government corruption when news surfaced of his annual salary of about $800,000, was sentenced on Wednesday to 12 years in prison, officials said.
Rhode Island loses bid to have pension reform lawsuit tossed
(Reuters) – A lawsuit by retired Rhode Island public employees over the state’s sweeping 2011 pension system overhaul will continue after a judge on Wednesday rejected a move by state officials to have the case thrown out.
Family is key to understanding accused Boston bomber: attorney
BOSTON (Reuters) – The accused Boston Marathon bomber’s relationship with family, and particularly with his slain older brother who prosecutors contend helped plan the attack, is key to understanding his case, defense lawyers argued on Wednesday.
Alabama’s Auburn University cancels classes over rampage threat
(Reuters) – Alabama’s Auburn University said it found no immediate safety threat after canceling classes on Wednesday because of a message posted in a campus restroom that reportedly warned of a “rampage of biblical proportion.”
